Books like My Awakening: A Path to Racial Understanding

**2nd reading of this book**Occasionally, I like to read a book because I expect it to challenge my beliefs and cause me to think. This is the second time I've read this book and it is hard to read it without nodding your head to some of what Dr. Duke says and saying yes, this makes sense. Dr. Duke is a White Nationist, which is a political ideology which advocates a distinct identity for white people and a separate all-white nation state. This is not necessarily the same as a white supremacist although some people may be identified as both. This book really challenged my views. Far from being a stereotypical uneducated hick in a white sheet, Dr. Duke educates the reader in various misrepresentations of the beliefs of our founding fathers, presents evidence on racial differences, and expounds on his beliefs about a Jewish conspiracy to radically change our country. The book is full of footnotes and there are over 1000 sources listed in the back of the book, all from neutral sources or from groups that would be considered his opposition.Because I learned a lot about the rationale for Dr. Duke's views, I give this book 4 stars and I can concede that there are some differences that are related to race or culture and that our founding fathers views on racial issues are not as egalitarian as one might believe. But, I do not buy all the conclusions of the author hook, line, and sinker. The separatist white state utopia that Dr. Duke yearns for cannot ever exist and that is probably a good thing. I think we may not all be the same, but part of our challenge on earth is to learn to live with each other and co-exist. I think our time is best spent focusing on the best way to do that.